That's despite the objections from a hedge fund that is trying to buy the company. The Davenport-based publisher says a judge threw out Alden Global Capital's latest lawsuit Friday.
The publisher of the Quad City Times and Dispatch-Argus, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Bloomington Pantagraph, Lincoln Journal Star, and dozens of other newspapers rejected Alden's $141 million takeover offer in December because Lee said it ``grossly undervalued'' the company.
Alden already owns more than 200 newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune.
Alden, which owns 6.3% of Lee's stock, says change is needed because the company has delivered disappointing results since buying all of Berkshire Hathaway's newspapers in 2020. But Lee has said it is making good progress in raising online ad revenue and digital subscriptions.
Lee's board has received support from two other hedge funds that hold stakes in the company because they have said Lee is worth significantly more than the $24 per share Alden has offered.
